Public Interest Fellowships

Post-graduate public interest fellowships are an excellent way to begin your career in public interest law. Many fellowships are project-based, where applicants partner with a non-profit organization and apply for external funding based on a specific proposed project. Others are funded directly by the organization with which the fellow will work. The fellowship application process primarily takes place during the 2L summer and 3L year but it is important to foster relationships with potential sponsors as early as your 1L year.

If you would like periodic emails with tips, opportunities, and deadlines, email Sofia Parino at slparino@ucdavis.edu. For more information about potential fellowship opportunities visit:

• Post Graduate Public Interest Fellowships 
• Equal Justice Works Fellowships - 2018-2020 applications are open now and due September 27, 2017
  
  • Find Fellowship Sponsor geographic and issue area preferences, some examples are:
    • Los Angeles - immigrants, children, healthcare, civil rights, LGBT rights, veterans, all projects
    • San Diego- Children, criminal justice reform, juvenile justice, disability rights, immigration, low-income entrepreneurship, special education, veterans, all projects
    • San Francisco/Silicon Valley/Palo Alto - Children, criminal justice reform, juvenile justice, elder care, disability rights, immigration, low-income entrepreneurship, special education, veterans, homelessness, all projects
    • San Jose - Immigrant Communities
• Skadden Fellowships - 2018-2020 applications are now closed
  
• Berkeley Law Foundation - 2018 application not yet available
• Soros Justice Fellowship - 2018 application due December 6, 2017 (Online application system will begin accepting LOIs on October 2, 2017)
• PSJD (formerly PSLawNet)

2018 Post-Bar Fellowship Opportunities

The lists below are just samples of the opportunities available and are only updated on a periodic basis.  You are encouraged to visit PSJD often for the latest opportunities.

Project Based Fellowships:

Many public interest organizations throughout California and the Nation are currently accepting applications for their 2018-2020 fellowship candidates.  This is the first step in a two step process.  First you apply to the organization, if you are selected, then you apply to fellowships such as EJW or Skadden with the organization. 

• Texas Defender Service - Houston or Austin, TX - no deadline given
• ACLU of Alaska - Anchorage - Applications accepted on rolling basis, reviewed as received so apply early
• Adelante Alabama Worker Center - Birmingham, AL - Applications accepted on rolling basis, reviewed as received so apply early
• Bet Tzedek  - Los Angeles
• Impact Fund - Berkeley - Applications accepted on rolling basis, reviewed as received so apply early
• Family Violence Appellate Project – Oakland - Applications accepted on rolling basis, reviewed as received so apply early
• Sustainable Economies Law Center - Oakland - Applications accepted on rolling basis, reviewed as received so apply early
• Urban Justice Center Domestic Violence Project - New York - No deadline posted for application

In-House Fellowships:

• Human Rights Watch - Alan R. & Barbara D. Finberg Fellowship in Human Rights (2 year) - New York or DC - application due October 6, 2017
• Natural Resources Defense Council - Charles Koob Litigation Fellow (2 year) - San Francisco or DC - application due October 6, 2017
• National Juvenile Defender Center - Gault Fellow  (2 year) - Washington DC - application due October 30, 2017
• If/When/How Reproductive Justice Fellowship (1 year - 3 separate fellowships) - various locations - application due November 1, 2017
• NYC Appellate Public Defender Center for Appellate Litigation Staff Attorney Fellowship (2-3 years) - New York - application due November 15, 2017
• Appellate Teaching Fellow/Staff Attorney at Georgetown Law (2 year) - Washington DC - applications considered on rolling basis until December 1, 2017
• New York University School of Law - National Center on Philanthropy & the Law (1 year) - New York - application due December 11, 2017
• Yale/NRDC - Environmental Law Fellow (2 year) - varied locations - application considered on rolling basis through December 15, 2017
• Clinical Teaching Fellow/Staff Attorney at Georgetown Law (2 year) - Washington DC - application due December 15, 2017
• Changelab Solutions Legal Fellow (1 year) - Oakland, CA - application due December 31, 2017
• American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (1 year) - Washington DC - no deadline posted for application
• The Greenlining Institute Policy Fellowship Program (1 year) - application to open fall 2017
• The Greenlining Institute Legal Fellowship Program (1 year) - application to open fall 2017